How to maximise your O-Week experience

UNSW O-Week is the biggest orientation event in the southern hemisphere, so here's a masterplan on how to min-max it to your benefit.

Published on the 20 May 2026 by Madeline Kahl

Madeline Kahl

The masterplan

Students and staff at Term 1 O week 2026

Whether you're an UNSW student, a high school student or, god forbid, an imposter, everyone is at O-Week.

Being the biggest orientation event in the southern hemisphere, a strategy is key to mastering O-Week. And considering this will be my fourth O-Week, I feel I have the credentials to give you the masterplan on how to min-max O-Week.

1. Bring a tote bag for all the freebies

My number one tip for O-Week is to bring absolutely nothing and leave with absolutely everything. No matter how many terms I do at UNSW, each O-Week without fail, I bring home tote bags full of free samples, food, drinks and the ever-important stickers.

The better stalls have learned from UNSW students and started giving away their freebies in tote bags.

1.1. Get stickers for the back of your student ID!

I’m not sure if this was super niche for just me, but back in my day, a huge thing during O-Week was collecting these mini-square stickers to put on the back of your student ID card.

I remember coming home from my first day at O-Week and feeling like I failed at UNSW life because I only had my Arc and Business Society stickers. (I still haven’t gotten any more stickers, RIP).

2. Attend your faculty event

Whether it's the ADA, Science and Law inductions on Tuesday or the Engineering and Business inductions on Wednesday, attend your faculty intros.

If not to meet your peers and further understand the degree you're about to pursue for a minimum three years, then to get the exclusive faculty-specific merch!! The greatest loss of my life was that I didn’t get the ADA tote bag at the start of the year. When will justice be served?!

3. Wear sunscreen

No matter if it's the dead of winter in Term 2 or, unfortunately, raining in Term 1, you will get sunburnt. Think about it: apart from the faculty introduction, you will be outside roaming the UNSW campus for HOURS. The sunburn is imminent. Wear your sunscreen, drink lots of water and even bring a hat!

No one wants to have a sunburnt photo on their UNSW ID card for the next three years.

4. Vibe check the clubs!

Clubs are the cornerstone of UNSW life. So much so that everyone I have known at UNSW has had interactions with a club at some point. Knowing that it’s going to happen to you eventually, why delay the inevitable?

O-Week is the perfect place to vibe-check with the over 300 clubs UNSW has to offer. Whether it's faculty-aligned, sports or even just a hobby, I can guarantee at least ONE will pique your interest.

(Faculty-specific tote bag mourning ^)

5. Exclusive weekly events

Not only is there a lot to do on campus, but there is even more to do off campus. The local community is fully aware of the influx of students patrolling the light rails. From bar crawls to society meet-ups, everything is happening, so accommodate accordingly. Personally, I recommend the Campus Compass speed-friending, but that’s just me.

6. Get all your admin out of the way

O-Week, of course, is about meeting friends and getting as many freebies as possible. But it is first and foremost an orientation event. Make sure you get yourself settled into UNSW life to make your first week as easy as possible.

Get your ID card, connect to the wifi, find out where your classes are and know which light rail to take so you don’t have to walk up the rainbow stairs. All of these things may seem small, but they will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

7. When in doubt, find a Yellow Shirt

The most important wisdom I can impart to you is that when in doubt, find a Yellow Shirt. The Yellow Shirts are renowned not only for being super friendly but also for their extensive knowledge of the UNSW campus. As O-Week is the biggest orientation event in the southern hemisphere, you may need a bit of guidance. Also, they always know where the free food is.

There you have it! Your foolproof plan for UNSW O-Week. With this handy dandy guide, I have full faith that you will have the best O-Week of your university dreams! Truly, the best time of the Term, I wish it were O-Week every week.